Shower chair



March 3, 1964 c. E. MURCOTT SHOWER CHAIR Filed Oct. 10, 1962 INVENTOR [/MRUSS f. Mu/vcorr H 7'TORNE Y United States Patent Ofi ice 3,123,398 Patented Mar. 3, 1964 3,123,398 SHOWER CHAIR Charles E. Murcott, Valley Drive, Bay Crest, Huntington, N.Y. Filed Oct. 10, 1962, Ser. No. 229,665 9 Claims. (Cl. 297-183) This invention relates to portable chairs adapted for use by patients in hospitals and similar places for transporting the patient to a shower in the process of bathing the patient. More particularly, the invention deals with a chair of the character defined, wherein the various frame parts or components of the chair are constructed of rustproof materials to render long service and, particularly, wherein the fabric back support is movable on the backrest frame for and complete exposure of the back of the patient during the process of bathing a patient and, wherein, the chair is of such structure as to facilitate convenient positioning of the chair over a standard toilet.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a chair made according to my invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the chair, omitting the casters for simplification f the showing.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the seat structure of the chair illustrating the supports therefor, parts of the structure being broken away.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section on the line 44 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail view illustrating one end portion of a brace and seat supporting member and its attachment to one of the side frames.

In illustrating one adaptation and use of my invention, I have shown a shower chair, comprising two similar substantially U-shaped side frames 10, a U-shaped backrest frame III, a generally O-shaped footrest and seat supporting frame 12, a brace and seat supporting member 13 and a standard toilet seat 14.

As both of the frames 10, 10 are of identical construction, a detailed description of the frame 10 only will be given. The frame 10 has two diverging leg members 15, having inwardly offset lower ends .16, the frame 10' being tubular in form. Coupled with the ends 16 are rustproof casters 17. The upper converging ends of the legs are integrally joined in a crosshead 18, which forms an armrest portion and attached to this portion is a vinyl handgrip '19.

The frame 11 is also composed of tubing and comprises side backrest portions 20 having lower oifset ends 21, which are bolted or otherwise fixed to the rear legs of the frames 10, as diagrammatically illustrated at 22 in FIG. 1 of the drawing, these bolts being preferably composed of stainless steel.

The upper end portion of the frame 11 is reaiwardly offset, as seen at 23 in FIG. 1 0f the drawing, and these offset ends are joined by a crosshead 24 forming a handgrip portion, by means of which the chair can be moved by an attendant.

The frame 12, as stated, is generally O-shaped in form and is composed of tubing. The side members 25 of this frame are bolted to the legs 15 by stainless steel bolts, as diagrammatically seen at 26'. The frame is angularly disposed in the frame 10 to arrange the lower footrest end 26 thereof slightly beyond the offset end 16 of the front legs of the frame 10, as clearly noted in FIG. 1 of the drawing, but still contained within the overall length of the chair, including the casters 17 coupled therewith. The upper end 27 of the frame 12 forms part of the support for the seat 14 and this end is disposed within boundaries of the front legs 15 of the frames 10, again, as clearly noted in FIG. 1, and coupled with the forward portion of the seat 14 centrally thereof is a hooksh-aped bracket 28 for fixedly retaining the seat 14 against displacement or movement on the support 27. The bracket 28 is clearly illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawing. In said figure are shown two other similar brackets 28' fixed to the rear portion of the seat 14 and operatively engaging the member 13 in further definitely positioning the seat 14 on the framework of the chair. The depending terminal ends 13' of the tubular member 13 are fashioned to partially envelop the rear legs 15 of the frames 10, 10' and are secured thereto by stainless steel bolts, as diagrammatically seen at 29. One detailed showing of this coupling and structure is illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawing.

All of the tubular portions of the chair, in other words, the frames 10, It), the frame 11, the frame 12 and the member 13 are formed of any type and kind of rust resisting materials, or materials treated for rust resistance, and, in illustrating one use, anodized aluminum can be employed.

Normally mounted on the side backrest portions 20 is a suitable backrest supporting band 30, composed of any suitable flexible material, preferably white Dacron, the band being of suflicient width to provide a comfortabie backrest support and ends of the band are looped around the portions 20, as seen at 31 in FIG. 4 of the drawing, wherein one of these ends are shown and stitched or otherwise secured, as diagrammatically seen at 32 in said figure, with the band tautly stretched between the portions 29. The looped ends 31 of the band 30 are movable vertically on the portions 20 to expose the entire back of the patient, in other words, down to the juncture of 20 with 21, as noted in FIG. 1 of the drawing, and up over the offset portions 23. Further, in some conditions, the loops 31 can be passed onto 24 and gathered on 24, together with the body portion of the band in providing a more or less full exposure of the back as and when such exposure is necessary.

In addition to the use of the chair in shower bathing, the height of the member .13 is such as to facilitate movement of the chair over a standard toilet. Further, it will be understood that, in movement of the chair over a surface, the feet of the patient can be supported on the lower footrest 26 of the frame 12 to avoid having the freet come in contact with any object on the surface over which the chair is moved.

By utilizing bolts in coupling the various frame parts, it will be apparent that the chair can be shiped in a knockdown state and, in this knockdown condition, the frame 12 and member 13 can be swung into collapsed positions on the toilet seat 14. It will further be apparent that the band 30 is pre-made and then mounted on the portions 20, 21, the band being stretched in this operation. The band can, of course, be retained on the frame 11 in the knockdown condition of the chair.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A chair of the character defined comprising two similar substantially U-shaped side frames having front and rear legs, a U-shaped backrest frame having side backrest portions including offset lower ends fixed to the rear leg members of the side frames, a brace member extending between and fixed to the rear legs of the side frames, means fixed to the front legs of the side frames forming, in a combination with said member, a support for a toilet seat, means for fixing the seat to said member and first named means, a flexible backrest movably supported on the side backrest portions of said frame, said first named means comprising an O shaped frame, and said O-shaped frame including at its lower end a footrest ofiset forwardly on the side frames to a slight extent.

2. A chair as defined in claim 1, wherein the means fixing the toilet seat to the first named means and said member com-prises substantially hook-shaped brackets.

3. A chair as defined in claim 1, wherein the side frames, backrest frame, O-shaped frame and said member are all composed of rustproof tubular material.

4. A chair as defined in claim 1, wherein the side frames, backrest frame, O-shaped frame and said member are all composed of tubular anodized aluminum.

5. A chair as defined in claim 4, wherein the backrest frame, O-shaped frame and said member are secured to the side frames by stainless steel bolts.

6. A chair as defined in claim 1, wherein said backrest, O-frame and brace member are detachable with respect to the side frames in knockdown condition of the chair.

7. A chair as defined in claim 6, wherein said O-frame and brace member are collapsible with respect to the toilet seat.

8. A knockdown chair of the character defined comprising two similar substantially U-shaped side frames having front and rear legs, a U-shaped backrest frame having side backrest portions including downwardly and rearwardly oiiset lower ends coupled with the upper portions of said rear leg members, a brace member extending between and coupled with the rear legs in alinement with 4- the lower ends of the side backrest portions, means coupled with the front legs of the side frames forming, in combination with said member, a support for a toilet seat, means mounted on the seat for swingably coupling the seat to said member and first named means, a flexible backrest supported on the side backrest portions of said backrest frame, and said brace member and first named means being collapsible on the toilet seat in the knockdown condition of the chair.

9. A chair as defined in claim 8, wherein said first named means comprises an O-shaped frame, and a part of said O-Shaped frame forming a footrest when the chair is in assembled use condition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,228,771 Hanger June 5, 1917 1,638,040 Killen Aug. 9, 1927 1,895,115 Williams Jan. 24, 1933 2,571,282 Newton et a1 Oct. 16, 1951 2,585,771 Harris Feb. 12, 1952 2,667,916 Burd Feb. 2, 1954 2,851,090 Hamilton Sept. 9, 1958 2,872,686 Osborn et al Feb. 10, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 561,798 Italy Apr. 27, 1957 681,490 Great Britain Oct. 22, 1952 

1. A CHAIR OF THE CHARACTER DEFINED COMPRISING TWO SIMILAR SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED SIDE FRAMES HAVING FRONT AND REAR LEGS, A U-SHAPED BACKREST FRAME HAVING SIDE BACKREST PORTIONS INCLUDING OFFSET LOWER ENDS FIXED TO THE REAR LEG MEMBERS OF THE SIDE FRAMES, A BRACE MEMBER EXTENDING BETWEEN AND FIXED TO THE REAR LEGS OF THE SIDE FRAMES, MEANS FIXED TO THE FRONT LEGS OF THE SIDE FRAMES FORMING, IN A COMBINATION WITH SAID MEMBER, A SUPPORT FOR A TOILET SEAT, MEANS FOR FIXING THE SEAT TO SAID MEMBER AND FIRST NAMED MEANS, A FLEXIBLE BACKREST MOVABLY SUPPORTED ON THE SIDE BACKREST PORTIONS OF SAID FRAME, SAID FIRST NAMED MEANS COMPRISING AN O-SHAPED FRAME, AND SAID O-SHAPED FRAME INCLUDING AT ITS LOWER END A FOOTREST OFFSET FORWARDLY ON THE SIDE FRAMES TO A SLIGHT EXTENT. 